Let us consider four positive consecutive terms of a G.P. as follow:
a,ar,ar2,ar3(a,r>0)
Product =a4r6=1296
⇒a2r3=36
⇒a=r3/26
Sum =a+ar+ar2+ar3=126
⇒r3/21+r3/2r+r3/2r2+r3/2r3=6126
⇒(r−3/2+r3/2)+(r1/2+r−1/2)=21
Let r1/2+r−1/2=A
⇒r−3/2+r3/2=(r21+r2−1)3−3(r21+r2−1)
=A3−3A
Therefore,
A3−3A+A=21
⇒A3−2A=21
⇒A=3
∴r+r1=3
⇒r+1=3r
On squaring both sides:
r2+2r+1=9r
⇒r2−7r+1=0
Here, sum of roots=7